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caitfoges's review
3.0
Zeitoun brings to light the simultaneously fascinating and horrifying reality of post-Katrina New Orleans and the "justice" system informed by post-9/11 paranoia and the notorious Patriot Act. Definitely an important read--Americans need to know the full extent of what happened here.
That being said, I felt the writing itself was lacking. It could have used a healthy dose of editing to cut out unnecessary repetition and details. Also I was thrown off by the random narrative shift in the last section.
That being said, I felt the writing itself was lacking. It could have used a healthy dose of editing to cut out unnecessary repetition and details. Also I was thrown off by the random narrative shift in the last section.
books4biana's review
4.0
Sometimes you just stumble upon a book that floors you.
This book started as a great story of hard work and success of an immigrant. And it quickly turned into the survival of Katrina. I knew it was going to be about Katrina and I remember the dates...so when the family talked about it being just a low level storm to "we should leave now", I felt the urgency.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun (zay tune), is originally from Syria but has been in New Orleans for ages. He's a part of the community. He has a family, a thriving business, many many friends. When Katrina comes, he's confident he can wait out the storm...keep an eye on the property that he owns...help neighbors...and prepare the home for the family's return.
As we know now, Katrina was a devastating storm. And the levees failed, letting the water rise some 30 feet. Zeitoun was unable to leave NOLA. He pulled out his aluminum canoe and began to survey the damage to his property. He helped rescue 5 people that first day. He found dogs to feed and befriend. He contributed to the betterment of his community.
Then he was arrested for petty theft. What followed after was the true disaster. As bad as Katrina was, that was a natural disaster. The rest was epic incompetence and greed and confusion and it broke my heart.
I am left stunned. I didn't know these things, except what I saw on the news. This was eyeopening.
This book started as a great story of hard work and success of an immigrant. And it quickly turned into the survival of Katrina. I knew it was going to be about Katrina and I remember the dates...so when the family talked about it being just a low level storm to "we should leave now", I felt the urgency.
Abdulrahman Zeitoun (zay tune), is originally from Syria but has been in New Orleans for ages. He's a part of the community. He has a family, a thriving business, many many friends. When Katrina comes, he's confident he can wait out the storm...keep an eye on the property that he owns...help neighbors...and prepare the home for the family's return.
As we know now, Katrina was a devastating storm. And the levees failed, letting the water rise some 30 feet. Zeitoun was unable to leave NOLA. He pulled out his aluminum canoe and began to survey the damage to his property. He helped rescue 5 people that first day. He found dogs to feed and befriend. He contributed to the betterment of his community.
Then he was arrested for petty theft. What followed after was the true disaster. As bad as Katrina was, that was a natural disaster. The rest was epic incompetence and greed and confusion and it broke my heart.
I am left stunned. I didn't know these things, except what I saw on the news. This was eyeopening.
cbendixe's review
5.0
I typed everything that I wanted to say, i.e. the perfect review, about this book yesterday but unfortunately my computer at work and Goodreads do not get along. So I'm going to try and duplicate what I said then....grr.
Zeitoun is the true story of the Zeitoun family in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina; it's told in their voice, particularly the voice of the father and husband, Abdulrahman. He stayed behind while the rest of the family fled to Baton Rouge, and during the days after the levees broke, he paddled the streets of his neighborhood and rescued friends and strangers (along with a few of their pets). Unfortunately, his heroism meant nothing to law enforcement personnel roaming the streets of the city looking for people to arrest for anything they could think up; the fact that Zeitoun is a Syrian Muslim was just a perfect coincidence for them.
I won't detail the unjust treatment that Zeitoun experienced during his captivity; Eggers does this superbly in a clear journalistic manner. The most amazing part of this story for me is that the Zeitoun family, including Zeitoun himself, after having had such a terrible and despairing experience, remains in the US and are back to their life in New Orleans. Their courage will amaze you, their treatment by law enforcement and other public officials will anger you, and their love for each other will inspire you to call your mom. Unless perhaps you are a robot.
Zeitoun is the true story of the Zeitoun family in New Orleans during and after Hurricane Katrina; it's told in their voice, particularly the voice of the father and husband, Abdulrahman. He stayed behind while the rest of the family fled to Baton Rouge, and during the days after the levees broke, he paddled the streets of his neighborhood and rescued friends and strangers (along with a few of their pets). Unfortunately, his heroism meant nothing to law enforcement personnel roaming the streets of the city looking for people to arrest for anything they could think up; the fact that Zeitoun is a Syrian Muslim was just a perfect coincidence for them.
I won't detail the unjust treatment that Zeitoun experienced during his captivity; Eggers does this superbly in a clear journalistic manner. The most amazing part of this story for me is that the Zeitoun family, including Zeitoun himself, after having had such a terrible and despairing experience, remains in the US and are back to their life in New Orleans. Their courage will amaze you, their treatment by law enforcement and other public officials will anger you, and their love for each other will inspire you to call your mom. Unless perhaps you are a robot.
carrieprice78's review
5.0
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. [return][return]Aside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.[return][return]It's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do something to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.[return][return]Read this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
Merged review:
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. returnreturnAside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.returnreturnIt's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do s
omething to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.returnreturnRead this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
Merged review:
Dave Eggers has a reputation for his precise writing and keen observations, so I was a little disappointed to find a few typos within this book. Example: Zeitoun bought his bike for "fory" dollars, and a few sentences which seemed to be missing a pronoun or quotation marks. I think the draft could have benefited from more editing. returnreturnAside from those small issues, the story is amazing. Eggers was able to paint the relationship between Zeitoun and Kathy and their family with great clarity and depth. Eggers does not lack in character or plot development. The writing was simple, beautiful, and blunt.returnreturnIt's a story about one family's experience during and after Hurricane Katrina. I wish it was fiction--it's so maddening and frustrating that something like this can happen anywhere, let alone America in recent history. This book created a lump in my throat many times, and actual tears at least once. It's so sad. It makes me wish I could do s
omething to help, and guess what? I can! Eggers has become a great humanitarian with a mission to help those treated unjustly. At the end of the book, you'll find information about the Zeitouns' foundation which aids Hurricane Katrina victims as well as others around the world who are the victims of human rights violations.returnreturnRead this book--it's important to know that these things can and will still happen. If more people would choose civility, this world would certainly be better for it.
meghan111's review
3.0
boguey's review
4.0
I picked Zeitoun up at the Encinitas Public Library on a Saturday afternoon and finished it by Tuesday evening. Dave Eggers' account follows a Muslim man from Syria named Zeitoun and his family, residents of New Orleans, through their experience with Hurricane Katrina. The story is equally dispiriting and inspiring, as Eggers explores what can happen, as it did, to a weak system suddenly in disarray. Toss into the natural devastation questions about religion, tolerance, heroism, and personal definitions of home, and you've got a read that is simply tough to put down.
This one is appropriate for all ages save for a couple of particularly difficult allusions that may not be suitable for pre-teens. Enjoy.
This one is appropriate for all ages save for a couple of particularly difficult allusions that may not be suitable for pre-teens. Enjoy.
tittypete's review
5.0
Man, I loved this book. Cleanly and efficiently written. I flew through it. The Katrina back drop was fascinating as well as the basic story of human rights being trampled on when we as a country are faced with a challenge. This book made me angry, indignant and, for a moment, more of a liberal. So for the pleasure of reading an exquisite and fascinating story I give the book 5 stars.
But then I read about Zeitoun's wife beating and Islamic radicalization and I can't help but wonder if the title character was whitewashed a bit to make for a more palatable protagonist. If he was an asshole muslim guy I probably wouldn't have been as outraged by his mistreatment. I'll admit I'm being a bit of a bigot. In the book he's a near angel. In reality he sounds like a scumbag. Could be that his experience changed him but I don't but that completely. A relatively uneventful few weeks in jail shouldn't make you think it's ok to beat your wife and kids. So ... fuck this guy.
But the book, without knowing current Zeitoun events first made for one of the better reads of my last few years.I'd recommend to anyone ignorant of the Zeitoun reality. Otherwise I'm not sure how I'de react to it if didn't buy Egger's glowing representation of him.
But then I read about Zeitoun's wife beating and Islamic radicalization and I can't help but wonder if the title character was whitewashed a bit to make for a more palatable protagonist. If he was an asshole muslim guy I probably wouldn't have been as outraged by his mistreatment. I'll admit I'm being a bit of a bigot. In the book he's a near angel. In reality he sounds like a scumbag. Could be that his experience changed him but I don't but that completely. A relatively uneventful few weeks in jail shouldn't make you think it's ok to beat your wife and kids. So ... fuck this guy.
But the book, without knowing current Zeitoun events first made for one of the better reads of my last few years.I'd recommend to anyone ignorant of the Zeitoun reality. Otherwise I'm not sure how I'de react to it if didn't buy Egger's glowing representation of him.
leslielu67's review
2.0
The beginning of this book reminded me of Three Cups of Tea, in which the author paints the main character as annoyingly almost Jesus-like. At least Zeitoun did not miraculously attend Mother Teresa's funeral! This book should have been halved, with much of the pre-Katrina family history chopped. Better yet, it would have made a great 3-part series in the newspaper. The story needs to be told, but not like this.
lavoiture's review
5.0
I love Dave Eggers. I don't know why people hate on him so much because he's an amazing author. Zeitoun was a book I couldn't put down. It was horrifying to hear what happened to the family after Katrina. Totally worth reading, and while the subject was kind of depressing, the story itself was not.